Bulletin 444 April/May 2014

Registered Charity No: 272098 ISSN 0585-9980 SURREY ARCHAEOLOGICAL SOCIETY CASTLE ARCH, GUILDFORD GU1 3SX Tel/ Fax: 01483 532454 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.surreyarchaeology.org.uk

TRAINING FOR WAR IN SURREY Above: WW2 graffiti at Claycart. Below: Military Efficiency Tests at Aldershot, from Illustrated War News, October 1917. MORE TRENCHES AND RANGES Richard Alexander

This article covers additional ground addressed in previous Bulletin articles, providing an overview of more recent firing ranges mentioned, but not described, in Bull 440, and some more recent trenches not mentioned in Bull 438. The features were mainly identified through field walking, some in the course of the authors’ recently completed masters degree in 20th century conflict archaeology, and were surveyed by off-setting with 50m tapes with local datumsestablished using a hand held GPS. In common with other archaeological surveys of military practice trenches, their edges are shown with straight lines rather than hachures.

Claycart Features adjacent to Claycart Road consist of a machine gun range of two brick- walled sections with surrounding earthworks. The feature at the western end of the range is constructed with bricks from a company that ceased trading in 1930, and map regression work also confirms this pre-1930 date. The brick feature towards the eastern end of the range is of slightly different design, as its supporting buttresses are narrower and it is reinforced with iron sheeting approximately 12.5mm thick (half an inch) on the areas receiving the shots. The layout indicates that the two are associated, but the differences in construction suggest one was a later addition. The eastern feature contains graffiti dated 1941, suggesting that the range was constructed just prior to 1930, but continued to be used and developed until fallen into disuse to become a graffiti canvas by WW2.

Claycart: Eastern end of firing range with trench section in foreground

2 Claycart: Trench and range survey

Adjacent to the range are a set of military practice trenches between one and two metres wide, and between one and one and a half metres deep. On the whole the woodland here is quite light, and the trenches relatively easy to identify and survey. Of four sections of trench, two are short sections of between 30 and 40m, another is of c85m and the last of 140m. None are inter-connected, and they form a broadly zig- zag pattern. At a point on the southern edge of the firing range earthworks just east of the brickwork (SU85125144), the practice trench cuts through the firing range earthworks, indicating that the range pre-dates the trenches. Since the range can be dated to prior to 1930, the trenches are more recent, and their zig-zag pattern does not easily fit any of the standard WW1 lay-outs. For these reasons, they are presumed to be of WW2 construction.

Potters This feature is not far from Potters International Hotel, the previous site of the Aldershot Officers Club. Map regression places this as being a machine gun range dating to around 1930, and its design and construction are similar to that at Claycart. It consists of a single brick section of walling with earthworks to either side. Just east of the brickwork is a rectangular concrete base remnant of a building, and although there is no direct evidence to conclude that it is related, its close proximity suggests it could be. A shell casing dating to 1944 was found in the earthworks associated with the range, suggesting, unlike the similar machine gun range at Claycart, that it had remained in use well into WW2.

Potters machine gun range

3 Ash Vale military practice trenches Two short sections of trenches were identified in MOD woodland at Ash, on either side of the main footpath from Ash Vale railway station, over the canal and towards Ash Ranges.

Ash Vale trenches survey

The more westerly of the two sets runs for 38m along a bearing of 20˚ centered on SU 8959 5367 in a rough zig-zag pattern. It is quite shallow, ranging from 0.5 to 1m in depth, and varying in width from 2 to 2.5m. The eastern set runs for 46m on a bearing of 340˚ centered on SU 8951 53651, and is better preserved than the other, and also follows a zig-zag pattern. At its southern end the trench is a widened, rectangular section with an 'island' centered in it. The nature of this part of the trench is as yet unclear, although an island traverse can be ruled out as it is not sufficiently large to be one of these, and they fell from use prior to the likely date of these trenches. The trench is between 1 and 1.5m wide, and Ash Vale: western run varies in depth from 0.5 to 1. Neither trenches match designs covered in WW1 manuals, whereas both sets appear to be of the zig-zag design often identified as being of the WW2 era. They are not the first military practice features identified in the Ash area, as two late 19th century earthworks were identified and surveyed on Ash Ranges in 2004 by Judie English.

4 Ash Vale: eastern run

Conclusion As noted in Bull 438, in comparison with some other military training areas the contemporary archaeology of the Aldershot area remains relatively unstudied, and Young also noted a lack of recorded evidence of military practice trenches within the area (2008). Identification of the practice trenches described above, therefore, is of considerable significance. These features are indicative of the facsimile conflict landscape that would be expected of the wider training area. In 1909 the second largest firing range in the world was operational within the Aldershot training area at Bisley (the largest then being at Guantanamo). The identification of continuing development of ranges, in addition to the facility being created, demonstrates the expected on-going need for ever greater training resources, even in the inter-war years. As noted above, earlier military training features have been identified within the landscape (English 2004), and there is evidence of military detritus from modern training across the area. As such these features represent the gap between existing archaeologically recorded military training features and the on-going military training taking place on the site today. I would like to thank J. Revell for drawing the Claycart features to my attention.

REFERENCES English, J., 2004. Two late nineteenth-century military earthworks on Ash Ranges, near Aldershot, Surrey. Landscape History 26, 87–93. Ordnance Survey Maps 1873, 1897, 1912, 1920, 1938, 1961, 1978 Ordnance Survey Manoeuvre Map Aldershot District (North) 1905 McOmish, D, Field, D & Brown, G, 2002, Field Archaeology of the Salisbury Plain Training Area, English Heritage War Office 1997, British Trench Warfare 1917-1918, A Reference Manual, Imperial War Museum and Battery Press Wilson, H C & Casey, KKV, 1909, Rifle Range Construction, du Pont Young, A, 2008, The Aggregate Landscape of Hampshire – Results of NMP Mapping, Cornwall County Council (Historic Environment Service (Projects))

5 THE ROMANO-BRITISH RURAL SITE AT FLEXFORD: Excavations in October 2013

The Society’s excavations have continued at Flexford and two more busta were excavated. These are Roman funeral pyres where the cremation takes place above a prepared pit into which the burnt remains fall. These may be left in place or else partially or completely cleared and taken elsewhere, and pots may be placed in the pit after this process. The pit is then backfilled. As with the other two busta found at Flexford they were 0.45m below the surface and approximately 3m long by 1.4m wide. They had steep sides cut into the sandy subsoil and were lined with 1-2cm of clay which had burnt red during firing. The pits had been backfilled with clean sandy 14 clay. C analysis of charcoal from these busta has given dates of AD 260-420. The four busta excavated so far are in a line about 45m long running north-south roughly parallel to, and 30m east of, the suggested access track to the site. One excavated in October was the deepest so far, reaching 1m below the ground surface. Equally remarkable was a large flue at its north end that was at least 1.2m long, 0.3m wide and 0.3m deep. Three complete charred wooden staves, each about 2m long, were found placed lengthways above the clean sandy fill. Small samples were taken from each stave for analysis but otherwise they were left in position and therefore blocked access to all but the north-west corner of the feature. Excavating this sector revealed a large decorated greyware pot and a small greyware pot filled with material from the bustum. It appeared that the calcined bone was still in place in this section. The lower 10cm of the bustum was filled with black material which, at first sight, looked like charcoal but which subsequent analysis has shown to be burnt earth. The second excavated in October was not quite as deep and retained some nails, ash, charcoal, remains of burnt logs and a few traces of calcined bone. There was evidence for a small air inlet at the south end. A separate trench found two U-shaped ditches that intersected just beyond the north section. The earlier ditch was 1.2m wide and 0.4m deep running approximately NNE- SSW. This had been deliberately and tightly backfilled with flint and gravel that was so tightly packed it was difficult to prise apart. The later ditch was 1m wide by 0.4m deep with an apparent flange on each side 40cm wide and 10cm deep. The primary fill was fine greyish white silt but the ditch had been partially re-cut and apparently deliberately filled later with silt and reddish lumps of what seemed to be burnt clay which might have been related to nearby pyres. The later ditch was fifteen degrees closer to north-south than the later ditch and aligned well with the ditches of the probable access track 300m north. It was thought that the earlier ditch had been filled when the access track was built. The stone packing suggested the access track was on the west side of the later ditch but despite great efforts no convincing evidence could be found for a parallel ditch which would have marked the other side of the track. Metal detecting has continued under controlled conditions and further Roman coins have been found in the plough soil, identified by Sam Moorhead at the British

6 Museum and loaded on the PAS database. One of the most interesting recent finds is a fragment of an inscribed rim from a copper alloy Roman jar (see fig). The inscription EX*PATR*LIB* has been translated as ‘freely given from the personal wealth of’ and if we can find the next fragment we may find out who gave the jar and perhaps even why they did so. My thanks are due to Emma Corke, Nikki Cowlard and Juliet Smith for supervising the trenches and to Isabel Ellis and Lou Hays for organising the finds team. As always Society members have done the work and thanks are due to them all. Mairi Sargent and Dave Williams continued the metal detecting which has made so much difference to our knowledge of the site. The next excavations will be from Wednesday to Sunday from Wednesday April 30th to Sunday May 18th. There are a few spaces left for volunteers.

METAL DETECTING SURVEY AT COBHAM David Williams

Since 2008 Tony Burke and his wife Veronica have been carrying out a metal detector survey on lands within the Cobham Park Estate with the approval of the landowner, Dominic Combe, and overseen by David Taylor. This note is intended to summarise this work, which remains on-going. Three areas have been the target of the survey: *An area close to Cobham Court, the former manor house, known as the Hamwell Fields, which comprises fields to the south-west of the village and above the Mole. *Land to the north of Downside, close to the site of the former Downe Place. *An area of parkland attached to Cobham Park. The areas surveyed are here referred to as Hamwell Fields, Downside and Cobham Park, and the numbers given in brackets refer to the object’s individual code on the Portable Antiquities Scheme database (www.finds.org.uk/database) where each should be prefixed with SUR-. The first two sites are both areas of ancient settlement. David Taylor thinks that the Hamwell site might take its name from a spring between the Fields and the river Mole. Cobham was once Covenham or Coveham and it is likely that this was derived from Cofa’s Ham(m). The manorial centre was established here by Chertsey Abbey, and it is possible that this is the area of the original settlement of Cobham. It lies within a large loop of the river Mole. The Downside site is close to the former Downe Place or Manor, a probable moated site (see SyAS Collections Volume 92, 2005). The farmland between the site of the former reputed manorial complex of manor house and mill and the present hamlet of Downside was once occupied by several small holdings and farms which appear to have existed in the medieval period. Effectively this area represents a ‘lost’ or ‘deserted’ settlement. The Burkes’ survey has also covered some of the present parkland attached to Cobham Park. Prior to enclosure at the end of the 18th century much of this land was part of Downe Field, an area of common field.

The finds The earliest are of the Bronze Age and comprise the butt of a palstave axe from Cobham Park (928271) and the possible tang of a chisel (DFA787) from an area east of Downside.

7 Four finds of late Iron Age date include two coins and two brooches, all from Hamwell Fields. One brooch (F6A687) is a fragment of an example of Birdlip type dating from 30BC to c60AD. This is an uncommon type, which may not have been previously recorded from Surrey. The other is a one-piece Colchester bow brooch, a type that spans the Conquest period. Both coins are unusual. One of copper alloy (B636A3) is of the Ambiani, a tribe which occupied the Somme area of northern France, and is a rare ‘Jester Head’ bronze unit struck c60-40 BC. It has been donated to the British Museum by the finder and landowner (registration number 2012,4024.1.). The other coin is a gold quarter stater of the Durotriges, c58BC –AD43 (9531E7), the tribe which was centred in the area of present day Dorset and is thus on or beyond the fringes of its expected distribution. Roman finds from the Hamwell Fields comprise two worn coins of the 1st or 2nd centuries, an unusual sestertius of Postumus minted in AD260 (218620) and a sestertius of Septimius Severus (DE7C96) minted in AD194. The reverse of the latter depicts three Monetae; the emperor’s bust shows his head only and the British Museum holds no examples of this variety. This area yielded two silver denarii of Vespasian, minted AD77-8, (CF2813) and Trajan (6659F3). Hamwell Fields has also yielded 26 radiates of the period AD275-295, with most found in a confined area, suggesting either a ‘Jester head’ bronze unit of the Ambiani c60-40BC short-lived settlement or a (top); quarter stater of the Durotriges c58BC-AD43 small, scattered hoard. Later (bottom). Roman coins from this site include a single example of a coin of Magnentius and three coins of the emperors Constantine I and II. In contrast Roman coins from Downside and Cobham Park were far fewer and comprise four worn issues of the 1st and 2nd centuries and single coins of Valentinian and Constantinian date. Roman finds other than coins were few, and include two lead weights of possible Roman date, the head of a pin, a single plate brooch (D8E744), and a knife or razor handle in the form of a human leg (E8CBD2), the latter from just outside Cobham Park. A number of similar examples of this form of handle have been recorded on the PAS database. Finds dating from the 5th century to the 11th century comprise only six objects. A circular plate brooch (20B681) of 5th-6th century date came from Hamwell Fields as did a hooked tag with silver inlay (5B1502) of 10th century date, and a stirrup-strap mount of Class B (458CE2) which dates to c1050-1100. A fragment of another stirrup-strap mount of Class B (0E9CF6) came from Cobham Park, which also produced a pin (FD8677) of 8th or 9th century date, while an openwork spherical ‘staff head’ (29A446) came from Downside. The precise function of the latter class of

8 object remains unclear but they are thought to be of 11th or perhaps 12th century date. Of 22 medieval coins from the survey, the earliest, from Hamwell Fields, is a penny of the poorly struck ‘Tealby’ coinage of Henry II minted 1158-80 (2FA264). There are also seven coins of the Short and Long Cross coinages of 1180-1279, and others of note include a cut Sestertius of Postumus, AD260, Reverse type: halfpenny of William I of Emperor standing holding spear and globe P M TR P Scotland, minted c1195- COS II P P S C. Double struck reverse. 1230 (DBC5E6), from Downside, (these are frequent finds in southern England), and a coin of Enrique of Castile, 1369-79 (AE47E2) from Hamwell Fields. Eight of the 22 came from Cobham Park or Downside. Other notable medieval finds include five French jettons, part of a prick spur (45A758), the arm from a late medieval crucifix (20ACB6), an unusual strap distributor (2AB111), and three harness pendants. One of the latter (F42731), from Hamwell Fields, is a fine large gilded example of 12th century date. This has an over-mounted dragon set vertically and presently has no parallel. (The other two pendants are 8E6372 and F43165). The impressive monastic seal from Hamwell Fields, and Hollow openwork spherical ‘staff head’, cAD1050-1150. deriving from Stone Priory in Staffordshire and now displayed in Stone church, (B74173) is now well known and its finding in Cobham remains a mystery. A second, smaller, seal (7B3601) comes from Downside and is fittingly that of William of Cobham (or Coveham to use the earlier form of its name). More recent material, which includes many buckles and dress fittings, is plentiful and can be reported on only in summary here. Sixty post-c1500 silver coins have been recovered, most of which date to the 16th and 17th centuries (particularly from the

9 reigns of Elizabeth I and Charles I). There are 33 post- 1625 copper alloy coins (coins after c1700 were not recorded) and 28 jettons (or reckoning counters), mainly Nuremberg issues of the 15th and 16th centuries. Lead tokens, which were produced in a local context from the late Middle Ages through to c1800, were used for a variety of purposes. The Cobham survey has produced 104 examples to date and these include a notable concentration in Cobham Park. In the Commonwealth period copper alloy tokens were issued by local traders to counter a national shortage of small change. The survey has Shield-shaped harness pendant with over- produced 21 examples of these mounted ‘dragon’, gilded and with additional of which six were issued in engraved details. 12th century. Cobham (five of Thomas King and one of Francis Turrill). The remainder were issued in Chertsey (x2), Colnbrook, Hampton Wick, Kingston (x2), Isleworth, Richmond, Guildford, Kingstone (near Canterbury), Reigate and Dublin. A single Guildford token stands in contrast to those issued in towns to the south and west of London and illuminates Cobham’s trading connections in the 17th century. Other notable post-medieval finds include three lead Post Office seals (F47646, DCD5F5 (both c1690-1708), and 865867 (c1708-1715)) while a tunic button of the Woking Volunteer Cavalry (3E0FC1) comes from Hamwell Fields. This short-lived militia cavalry was in existence from 1798-1802 and this is the second such button recorded - the other was from Sutton Park. Part of a probable dog collar mount bears an inscription relating it to the LaCoste family (53A2F7), thought to be of Chertsey. A gold mourning ring from Downside commemorates Sir Francis Vincent of Stoke d’Abernon (died 16th May 1670) and may perhaps be one of the two left by Sir Francis to his cousin Matthew Carleton or to Carleton’s wife, both of Cobham (676831). The latter passed through the Treasure Act and is now in the care of Elmbridge Museum. A group of objects (2CAC42) from near Downside Mill appears to relate to casting or scrapping of copper alloy cooking vessels and may well relate to industrial activity at the mill. Hamwell Fields also yielded what appears to be a miscast post medieval trade weight (1358E7).

Acknowledgment I would like to thank Tony and Veronica for their frequent reporting of the finds from Cobham and for the interest they have taken in them, and David Taylor for contributing his observations on the background to the survey areas; the latter have been incorporated in this note.

10 COUNCIL NEWS

NEW MEMBERS Emma Coburn

Welcome to the following new members who have joined the Society. I have included principal interests, where they have been given on the membership application form. If you have any questions, queries or comments, please do not hesitate to get in contact with me on 01483 532454 or [email protected]

Name Town Principal Archaeological and Local History Interests Mrs J Andrews Dunsfold Roman, Anglo Saxon and Medieval Britain Mr A Andrews Dunsfold Mr N Bale Guildford Friends of Guildford Museum Mrs V Bale Guildford Mr H B Cockwill Woking Guildford, Woking, Pyrford, Woking Palace, Monumental Brasses and Tiles Mrs M G Cockrell Worcester Park Geology and Archaeology Mr E Creedy Guildford Classical History and Archaeology Ms D Downie Purley Mrs S Edwards Ewell Mr P Ferris Shamley Green Prehistoric, Medieval, Landscape, Battlefield Archaeology Ms C Hetherington Guildford Anglo-Saxon, Medieval, Numismatics Ms J Hughes Claygate Roman, Medieval and Local History Mr A Keen Purley Mr K Kerr Ayr Roman Mrs A Platts Sanderstead Archaeology, Iron Age, Roman, Medieval Dr H Platts Sanderstead Roman History and Archaeology, Iron Age Mr N Platts Sanderstead Industrial and Military history and archaeology Miss C Smellie Reading Ms A Terry Dorking History and Geography

RESEARCH COMMITTEE

ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM 2014

Around 90 members braved the floods and fallen trees to attend the Annual Symposium at Ashtead on Saturday 15th February. The symposium opened with a presentation from Abby Guinness and Becky Lambert on Community Archaeology. Abby spoke about the importance of volunteer work in archaeology and heritage. Last year volunteers put in a tremendous 8,651 hours of work in a wide variety of areas from finds processing to indexing. Becky then described an experimental archaeology project at Sayers Croft, a residential field centre at Ewhurst. The centre had a replica Iron Age roundhouse which, sadly, was destroyed in an arson attack in 2012. Plans were immediately made to rebuild it, but archaeologists persuaded the centre to build the new one alongside and leave the remains of the old one to degrade naturally. Burnt out roundhouses have been discovered on numerous sites and studying this site is already proving useful.

11 It was then a pleasure to hear Joe Flatman, well known to many in the audience as the former County Archaeologist, in his new role at English Heritage. Joe spoke about Aspects of National Designation and explained that much of his work involved strategic projects including railway architecture, post-war commercial buildings and Cold War military structures. Finds Liaison Officer, David Williams, gave his usual roundup of Recent Finds from Surrey, the highlight of which was the Ockham Hoard. This was discovered during building works at the Hautboy Inn at Ockham and included Middle Bronze Age palstave axes, rings and a pair of ‘Sussex loop’ bracelets. The latter are of particular interest as they have been previously only been known from the Brighton area. Another important find was the seal matrix of William of Cobham, found at Downside. Next, Rob Poulton spoke about Woking Palace, which is now in its 5th season of excavation. Last year’s excavations revealed that the large square medieval kitchen would have been out of use by the mid 13th century, indicating that it belonged to the earliest phase of occupation. At the beginning of the afternoon session The Margary Award for the best display was awarded to Leatherhead and District Local History Society for their display on the Great Bookham Test Pitting Project and the runner up was the Ewell Church Meadow Project.

President Emma Corke presents the Gravett Award to Lyn Spencer, of Leatherhead and District Local History Society, for their display on the Great Bookham Test Pitting Project

Sue Jones gave a presentation on the Bargemen of the Wey Navigation 1650 - 1750. Much has been written on the history of the navigation, but little is known about the people who worked on it. That it was an important part of the local economy is

12 evident from the fact that one in ten of occupations listed in St Mary’s parish records were for bargemen. Using various sources, Sue showed us they came from a diverse background and also included a number of bargewomen. Hugh Anscombe, of the Surrey Industrial History Group, took a look at What happened to the woollen cloth industry? The woolsacks on the coats of arms of Guildford and Godalming show the importance of the wool trade in west Surrey, but the industry failed to thrive in the 17th century and George Abbot’s attempts to diversify into linen were unsuccessful. Interest then turned to the Roman period and David Calow told us about Flexford. The site is unusual as, although there have been a great many finds there is little sign of permanent settlement. Finds include a high concentration of steelyard weights, indicating a possible trade use; some early brooches, all broken; an early boar figurine, one of only 50 found in Europe; and unusually, a large number of the coins dating from the Antonine period. Finally David Bird rounded off the afternoon by reading An illustrated talk from the 1920s: The Ashtead Villa by Arthur Cotton. The site was first excavated by A.W.G. Lowther between 1924 -9. David noted that the talk, when put together with the original photographs, filled in a number of gaps in the published report. Special thanks to Isabel Ellis and her team for the teas and coffees.

PREHISTORIC GROUP SPRING MEETING

An informal meeting of the Group has been arranged for Saturday 24th May in the Research Centre, Abinger from 2-5pm. It is hoped that those group members who have collections they wish to discuss will attend with them, but it is open to all members with an interest in prehistoric artefacts. For further information contact Rose Hooker at [email protected] or through the office at Castle Arch.

ROMAN STUDIES GROUP ASHTEAD ROMAN VILLA AND TILEWORKS David Bird

After submission of the report on the final season of excavation at Ashtead (Bull 443), it was realised that there was evidence for a probable cover building over the tile kiln. As noted, in the 2013 excavation a tiled surface was found close to the north-west corner of the kiln and there were traces of another alongside the south-west corner. In fact tiles laid flat were also found in previous years at the other two corners of the kiln. Although each feature is different it seems very likely that the tiles in each location were used as post pads for a cover structure, as none were found except at the corners. A close parallel for their positions can be found at a kiln excavated at Stettfeld near Karlsruhe, where the four bases are made of packed rubble forming squares nearly as wide as the central flue (Brandl & Federhofer 2010, 35). Substantial postholes for a cover building were found in the excavation of the Crookhorn kiln in Hampshire (Soffe et al 1989, 64-8 and fig 14, 60), but parallels generally seem to be rare. There was more than one phase of the building at Crookhorn, which could be one explanation for the variability of the tile features at

13 Ashtead. Others would be differential survival and some posts needing more chocking than others – uneven or soggy ground, post too short or made so by rotting, extra supports, etc. A modern parallel appeared in the BBC television programme Countryfile on 30th April 2007, which visited a Romanian kiln. This was a substantial structure which had a cover building open on all sides that was based on huge posts, sitting on post pads, supporting a tiled roof that extended out over the stoking area. It may be that at Ashtead further bases existed on either side of the stokehole (in areas inaccessible to our excavation) so that the cover could be taken out that far. At Crookhorn the postholes extended far enough to provide a cover over the stokehole.

REFERENCES Brandl, U, and Federhofer, E, 2010. Ton und Technik. Römische Ziegel. Schriften des Limesmuseums Aalen, 61 Soffe, G, Nicholls, J, and Moore, G, 1989. The Roman tilery and aisled building at Crookhorn, Hants, excavations 1974-5, Proc Hampshire Field Club Archaeol Soc, 45, 43-112

VISIT TO VERULAMIUM Saturday 28th June 2014

Our visit will comprise a guided tour of the Roman Theatre (together with the remains of a Roman shrine, town house and shops) and of Verulamium Park, to include the hypocaust mosaic and Roman wall. This will be followed in the afternoon by a guided ‘highlights’ tour of Verulamium Museum. The day has been designed to allow ample time for lunch and a visit to the cathedral, or a more detailed look at the museum, but you will need to make your own way to St Albans. If you would like to book a place, email me at [email protected] Cost per person: £11. Please make your cheque payable to Irene Goring and send it to 29 Colcokes Road, Banstead, Surrey SM7 2EJ by 1st June at the latest. And just for the record, AWG Lowther had a lot to do with excavating the theatre at Verulamium, working with Mortimer Wheeler.

JUST HOW ROMAN WAS ROMAN BRITAIN? Chertsey Hall 10th May

The Group’s major Conference to be held at Chertsey Hall on 10th May is attracting considerable interest, both within and outside the Society (see Bull 442 and the SyAS web site for the full programme). Its theme has been a continuing question of debate among archaeologists and historians for many years, and our conference this year will offer the opportunity to hear the views of a panel of leading experts on the period, and the chance to put questions to them. A booking form can be found on the Society’s website and we urge members who would like to attend to book soon.

14 SURREY LOCAL HISTORY COMMITTEE QUARTER SESSION AND ASSIZE RECORDS IN THE EARLY MODERN PERIOD

Our half-day meeting led by Catherine Ferguson at the Surrey History Centre on 26th January was very well attended and we were pleased to see many new faces. In the first session Catherine gave an account of how the British legal system evolved from a system of local ‘Customary law’ enforced by the Lord of the Manor to the enforcement of the King’s law or ‘Common Law’. Customary Law might vary from place to place according to the ‘custom’ of the manor concerned and was unwritten, whereas Common Law, which meant ‘in-common’ to all, was written law with records kept with the King in London. Major reforms were made under Henry II in the 12th century, when the precursors to the Assizes and Justices of the Peace (JPs) were formed, but Common Law continued to evolve gradually throughout the medieval and early modern period. In the 16th century the JPs were increasingly used as the key instruments of local government, charged with delivering the wide range of new policies which characterise the distinctive increase of governance under the Tudors. Thus the JPs came to deal with government regulation (such as economic and Poor Law regulation) as well as criminals; in time enforcing regulations would dominate their courts. There could be considerable overlap in the type of cases coming before Assize and Quarter Sessions courts; the JPs prepared the cases for both courts, and both delivered local gaols. A degree of overlap continued until the late 18th century, but as the 17th century progressed, however, the Assize Courts came increasingly to deal with the more serious or more complicated offences. Felonies (murder, rape, for example) and grand larceny (theft of goods valued at more than 12d.) technically carried the death sentence. In effect, only around 10% of those convicted were actually executed: juries often deliberately undervalued goods to 11d and in other cases a convict might claim ‘benefit of clergy’, a hang-over from the Middle Ages, when clergy were tried only by church courts which could not impose capital penalties. Proof of clergy status was the ability to read (or memorise) a psalm from the Bible, but the spread of literacy by the 17th century meant widespread escape from the noose even by humble labourers. After tea, Catherine explained how the records can be used for local and social history studies. In a period where there was no police force and no local government, the Justices of the Peace were charged with executing combined roles and their records reflect their wide-ranging authority: from highway repair to highwaymen and from forgery to forestalling the markets. They contain information, not only on criminal cases, but also records relating to such as enclosures, nonconformist and Roman Catholic meetings, licensed victuallers, highways or bridges and offer invaluable insight into communities. Assize records are kept at the National Archives, but Surrey Quarter Sessions records are held at the Surrey History Centre. They include order books, which survive from 1659, and the Sessions rolls, from 1660. Some of the earlier (Elizabethan and Jacobean) Assize records have been published by HMSO, and Quarter Sessions records by the Surrey Record Society (now available as digital images on CD); for the later period, the Surrey History Trust has produced a CD of Surrey Quarter Sessions 1780-1820.

15 EDUCATION IN SURREY ANNUAL SYMPOSIUM Saturday 5th April 2014 Ashtead Peace Memorial Hall.

We have a very full and varied programme for our symposium this year with some excellent speakers we are sure will be of great interest to local historians across the county. Catherine Fergusson will open the meeting with a talk on education in the early modern period. Moving into the 17th century, Peter Burgess will tell us about Reigate Grammar School. The question of education for girls and women will be addressed by Dr Stephanie Spencer, and we will also have a look at Art Schools and their role in women’s education, with Stephen Knott from the University of Creative Design. In the afternoon we have two speakers giving two different views of the education of the poor in the 19th century – Dr Lois Louden will speak about the role of the National Society in promoting church schools, while Terry Ransome will tell us about the work of the non-denominational British and Foreign Schools Society. In contrast, Alan Paine will tell us about education for the newly emerging Victorian ‘middle classes’ with a presentation on Cranleigh School. And finally, special educational needs will be covered by Anne Lea who will talk about the pioneering educational work of the Royal Earlswood Hospital. Local history societies will put on displays related to the theme in their areas and the Gravett Award will be awarded to the society producing the best display. Cost: £10 if registered in advance with Janet Balchin at [email protected]; Hullbrook Cottage, Cranleigh Road, Ewhurst GU6 7RN; Tel: 01483 277342. For full details see the last issue (Bull 443) or the SyAS web site.

SURREY HISTORY TRUST

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING 23rd June 2014, 6.30 to 9pm. Leith Hill Place

Our AGM will be held at Leigh Hill Place by kind permission of the National Trust. After a brief AGM there will be an illustrated presentation on The history of Leith Hill Place, a remarkable building which dates from 16th century and has connections with the Wedgwoods, Charles Darwin and Ralph Vaughan Williams. This will be followed by an update on future plans for the building. Restricted parking by the house is available for those unable to walk from the car park and, if required, this should be mentioned when making a reservation. Access is from the Trust’s Rhododendron Wood car park, Tan Hurst Lane (RHS 6LU). Arrival should be from 6pm to allow time for a walk of 400m to the house through a field. This event is open to non-members but numbers are restricted and places must be reserved in advance through the Surrey History Centre, Tel: 01483 5187737. There is no charge for the meeting but non-members of the Surrey History Trust will be invited to make a donation on the evening. Light refreshments will be available.

16 MISCELLANY FINDING FARNHAM Community Archaeology Project 2014

Local members of Surrey Archaeological Society and the Museum of Farnham are organizing this project to bring awareness and appreciation of archaeology to members of the public, and allow residents to explore their local history and heritage. This will be achieved through a series of metre square test pit excavations around select areas of the town centre and a programme of workshops, exhibitions and open days suitable for all ages.

Farnham Museum Garden Gallery Saturday 3rd May

Come along from 10am to 4pm and participate in excavating a test-pit in the museum grounds, take part in hands-on workshops led by local experts, and learn about Farnham’s past through extensive displays, handling collections and children’s activities. Also take the opportunity and sign up to participate in July’s community dig.

Archaeological test-pitting Saturdays and Sundays 5th to 27th July

Open to the general public in locations across Farnham. Participants of all ages are welcome to try their hands at digging, sieving material and processing finds, in order to find out more about the town’s buried past.

Farnham Museum Wrap-up Day Saturday 13th September

Displays of the results of this year’s digs, and talks from local experts about the archaeology of the Farnham region. Come along and learn about what we uncovered. Arranged school group visits catered for; for more information visit our website: https://www.findingfarnham.com For further information contact Anne Sassin (Project Manager), 101 St Peter’s Gardens, Wrecclesham, Farnham, Surrey GU10 4QZ; Tel: 01252 492184 [email protected] / [email protected] / www.findingfarnham.com or Sophie Smith (Assistant Curator), Museum of Farnham, 38 West Street, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DX ), Tel: 01252 715094, [email protected] www.farnhammaltings.com/museum

WOKING PALACE PARK PROJECT SPRING & SUMMER TALKS 2014

In March, Rob Poulton of the Surrey County Archaeological Unit gave a talk at the Surrey History Centre on From manor to palace - excavating the moated site at Woking, to kick off an exciting series of talks to celebrate the Tudor period and its archaeology as part of the Woking Palace and its Park Project. This isa community- led outreach programme funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.

17 There is still time to book your tickets for the remaining talks in the series:

KING RICHARD III IN SURREY: A Drama in Four Acts Saturday 26th April, 2.30pm The Lightbox, Woking Mike Page (County Archivist, SCC) Tickets: £5.

ARCHAEOLOGY WITHOUT DIGGING: Aerial Photography, LiDAR and Geophysics Friday 9th May 2014, 1pm The Lightbox, Woking Richard Savage (Vice President SyAS, Past Chairman Friends of Woking Palace Tickets free, but please book.

THE GAME OF KINGS: A history of Real Tennis, its origins, equipment, courts and colourful exponents through to the present day Saturday 14th June 2014, 2.30pm Surrey History Centre, Woking Lesley Ronaldson (Hampton Court Palace lecturer and Real Tennis professional. Tickets: £5 Booking essential for all talks, contact: [email protected] or Tel: 01483 518722. For further information on the project and the Friends of Woking Palace see: www.wokingpalace.org or e-mail: [email protected]

MEDIEVAL STUDIES FORUM STUDY VISIT TO PORTSMOUTH Saturday 21st June 2014

A study trip has been arranged for a day in Portsmouth. Included in the visit is a tour of the new Mary Rose Museum together with a ‘behind the scenes’ talk and a 90 minute walking tour of historic Portsmouth, led by Alan King, the Historical Collections Librarian of Portsmouth City Libraries. The cost is yet to be finalised but it is expected that tickets will cost around £20 per person. Entry and tour guide fees are included in the ticket price but not travel to and from Portsmouth. The meeting point will be the Gates of the historic Dockyard at 10.45am. Portsmouth is readily accessible by rail as well as road. Information on locations, parking, potential car-sharing etc. will be available nearer the time. The Study visit is open to all members of the Society and their guests. Numbers are limited and tickets will be issued. Application forms will be sent to all members of the Forum and posted on the Society’s website. If you are interested and have not already contacted Richard Savage please register your interest now by e-mail to [email protected] or Tel: 01483 768875

18 BELIEF AND UNBELIEF IN THE MIDDLE AGES Saturday 13th September 2014 East Horsley Village Hall

The keynote speaker of this Forum meeting will be John Arnold, professor of Medieval History at Birkbeck. The day will also include a session to finalise the Forum’s input into the review of the Surrey Heritage Environment Research Framework prior to the SHERF conference to be held in October. Details will be circulated as usual and posted on the Society’s website.

WOKING PALACE Call for volunteers - a reminder and correction of dates

The sixth season of excavation at Woking Palace, including setting up and closing down, is planned to take place from 8th September to 29th September with a public open day on Sunday 28th September. This sixth season is part of the current three year Woking Palace and its Park project, funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and headed by the Friends of Woking Palace with much assistance from the Surrey County Archaeological Unit. Digging and finds processing will generally take place from Wednesday to Sunday each week with setting up on Monday 8th and Tuesday 9th September and closing up of the site on Monday 29th September. This may well be the penultimate season of excavations on this Scheduled site and many interesting questions remain to be resolved. Full details of all of this year’s activities for public participation will be released shortly on-line (http://www.woking-palace.org/) and in the local press. The programme will include Dig for a Day, Finds for a Day, and the popular 3-day Basic Skills in Archaeology courses, as well as opportunities for local schools, groups and work teams to take part. As in previous years members of the Society, whether experienced or beginners, interested in participating in either digging or finds processing are invited to register their interest. If you have registered with Richard Savage your details have been passed to Abby Guinness, who is collating details of all volunteers. If you have yet to register please do so directly with Abby at [email protected] or Tel: 01483 518722.

OBITUARY

RICHARD WILLIAMS 1925-2014

It was with sadness that we learnt of the death of Richard Williams on the 12th January 2014. He joined the Society in 1956 and soon became involved with various aspects of the Society’s work and was a member of Council for many years. Richard was born in Wales and on leaving school he went to Birmingham University where he studied physics. For most of his career he worked a Senior Avionic Systems engineer with especial responsibility for the Nimrod Maritime and Tornado aeroplanes. It was at University that he met his wife Marjorie and they moved to Surrey in 1952. Both were familiar faces at many Society events. Richard, a veteran of the Events Committee (formerly Lectures and Symposia Committee), was

19 invaluable in setting up and operating the Society’s first slide projector and hardly any event took place without his involvement. On retirement he made a detailed survey of the heritage features in Waverley, a gazetteer of which was published in four parts by Waverley Borough Council. As a member of the Guildford Group he pursued his interests in local research, particularly the Guildford lime quarries, and also ranging from recording boundary stones to the gravestones in cemetery on the Mount. In 2004 Shire publications published his History of Lime and Lime Kilns in 2004, which was the first book on the subject to be found in the British Library. Richard remained active member of the Group until his death, still full of enthusiasm and ideas, and will be greatly missed. Audrey Monk

STEVE DYER

I must apologise to Judy English for omitting her authorship of the obituary in the last Bulletin. Peter Harp has also written in to say: Although I heartily agree with the sentiments expressed in the obituary of Steve Dyer, I was sorry to notice the omission that whereas Steve’s time as a member of the Excavations (now Research) Committee was mentioned, his tenure as its chairman was not. I am afraid I cannot give the precise dates, as they preceded my own chairmanship (2003-7) of that committee, but no doubt the society has the dates on file. As the obituary states in conclusion, Steve will, indeed, be greatly missed.” Steve was chair of the committee from 1987 to 2003.

CONFERENCE COUNCIL FOR KENTISH ARCHAEOLOGY The Sevenoaks Community Centre Saturday 12th April, 2-5 pm

Beyond the Mithraeum: Excavations at the Bloomberg Site, London Jessica Bryan The rescue of the last WW2 Dornier Do17 bomber from the sea. Representative from RAF Museum at Hendon Preservation and Conservation at Allington Castle, Kent Sir Robert Worcester Tickets: £5, available from CKA , 7 Sandy Ridge. Borough Green, Kent TN15 8HP (SAE please).

20 LECTURE MEETINGS

5th April “Thames road bridges” by Richard Fitch to Carshalton & District History & Archaeology Society in Milton Hall, Cooper Crescent, off Nightingale Road, Carshalton at 3pm. Visitors welcome £2.

7th April “The Gentleman’s Magazine (1731-1856). A resource for local and family historians” by Julian Pooley to Woking History Society at Holiday Inn, Woking at 8pm. Visitors welcome £3.

8th April “The urbanisation of South London” by Len Reilly to Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society at The Housing Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut, almost opposite the Old Vic Theatre at 7 for 7.30pm. Visitors welcome £1.

8th April AGM followed by “The Manor of West Betchworth” by Jane Le Cluse to Dorking Local History Group at the Follet Hall United Reformed Church, 53 West Street, Dorking at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome £2.

10th April “Manning and Bray” by Julian Pooley to Kingston Upon Thames Archaeological Society at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road near Berrylands Road, at 7.30 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £3.

10th April AGM and “What makes the countryside tick? – a Staffordshire perspective 1945- 1968” by Rosalie Hughes to Farnham & District Museum Society in the United Reformed Church Hall, South Street, Farnham at 7.45pm. Visitors welcome £2.

11th April “Roman brooches found in London and its hinterland” by Frank Pemberton to Richmond Archaeological Society at the Vestry Hall, Paradise Toad, Richmond at 8pm.

11th April “Donald Campbell’s water record” by Donald Stevens to Leatherhead & District Local History Society in the Letherhead Institute at 7.30 for 8pm. Admission £2. Visitors welcome.

12th April “Walton and Weybridge Local History Society – the first 50 years” by John Smith to Walton & Weybridge Local History Society in Weybridge Library Lecture Hall at 3pm.

21 12th April “Merton Priory: celebrating 900 years”: “The Merton Priory Manuscripts” by Richard Chellew and “The Granges of Merton Priory” by Janette Henderson to Merton Historical Society at Christ Church Hall, Colliers Wood at 2.30pm. Visitors welcome £2.

14th April “Wintershall Manor” by Judie English to Guildford Group at Guildford United Reformed Church (side entrance), 85 Portsmouth Road at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome £2.

14th April “The artist Spencer Gore (1878-1914) and his work in Richmond” by Helena Bonett to Richmond Local History Society at the Duke Street Church, Richmond at 7.30 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

15th April “Nine medieval churches” by Alan Bott to Send & Ripley History Society at Ripley Village Hall at 8pm.

22nd April “Cameras and corsets: dating old photographs” by Jane Lewis to Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society in the Theatre at Halliford School, Russell Road, Shepperton at 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

25th April “Battersea in the frame – a short cinematic history” by Aileen Reed to Wandsworth Historical Society at the Friends’ Meeting House, Wandsworth High Street (opposite Wandsworth Town Hall) at 8pm. Visitors welcome.

1st May AGM and short talk to Spelthorne Archaeology and Local History Group in Staines Methodist Church, Thames Street, Staines at 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

6th May “Lady Margaret Beaufort and other great ladies of Woking Palace” by Richard Savage and Peter Smee to Addlestone Historical Society at Addlestone Community Centre, Garfield Road, Addlestone at 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

7h May “Egyptian Archaeology” by Ann Musgove to Epsom & Ewell History & Archaeology Society at St Mary’s Church Hall, London Road, Ewell at 7.45 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £4.

22 8th May “A visit to some prehistoric Maltese sites” by Richard Watson to Kingston Upon Thames Archaeological Society at Surbiton Library Hall, Ewell Road near Berrylands Road, at 7.30 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £3.

9th May “All change now – how the Portable Antiquities Scheme Roman coin data is helping rewrite Romano-British history” by Sam Moorhead to Richmond Archaeological Society at the Vestry Hall, Paradise Toad, Richmond at 8pm.

12th May “What happened to Surrey’s woollen cloth industry?” by Hugh Anscombe to Guildford Group at Guildford United Reformed Church (side entrance), 85 Portsmouth Road at 7.30pm. Visitors welcome £2.

13h May “New discoveries from an old site - Excavations at Bloomberg Place” by Sadie Watson to Southwark and Lambeth Archaeological Society at The Housing Co-op Hall, 106 The Cut, almost opposite the Old Vic Theatre at 7 for 7.30pm. Visitors welcome £1.

13th May “Pillboxes – Surrey’s WW2 defences” by Chris Shepheard to Westcott Local History Group in the Westcott Reading Room, Institute Road at 7.45 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £1.

16th May “Behind the scenes at Leatherhead Museum” by Lorraine Spindler to Leatherhead & District Local History Society in the Letherhead Institute at 7.30 for 8pm. Admission £2. Visitors welcome.

17th May Annual General Meeting followed by members’ short talks to Walton & Weybridge Local History Society in Elm Grove Hall, Hersham Road, Walton-on-Thames at 3pm.

19h May AGM followed by short talks on current research and party at Richmond Local History Society at the Duke Street Church, Richmond at 7.30 for 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

20th May “Sir Richard Burbidge of Littleton Park and Harrods” by Nick Pollard to the Sunbury & Shepperton Local History Society in the Theatre at Halliford School, Russell Road, Shepperton at 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

23 21st May “Roman cookery” by Gwyneth Page to Holmesdale Natural History Club in The Museum, 14 Croydon Road, Reigate at 8pm.

30th May “Kings Cross Goods Yard: an historical and archaeological approach” by Rebecca Haslam to Wandsworth Historical Society at the Friends’ Meeting House, Wandsworth High Street (opposite Wandsworth Town Hall) at 8pm. Visitors welcome.

3rd June AGM and Members’ talks to Addlestone Historical Society at Addlestone Community Centre, Garfield Road, Addlestone at 8pm. Visitors welcome £2.

DATES FOR BULLETIN CONTRIBUTIONS 2014

There will be four further issues of the Bulletin in 2014. To assist contributors the relevant dates are as follows:

Copy date: Approx. delivery: 445 2nd May 2nd June 446 4th July 4th August 447 19th September 20th October 448 14th November 15th December

Next issue: Copy required by 2nd May for the June issue. Editor: Phil Jones, 5, Hampton Road, Newbury, Berks RG14 6DB. Tel: 01635 581182 and email: [email protected]